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The Barkley Marathons is actually two races run on the same course, a 100 Mile Run and a 60 Mile Fun Run. It is held annually in Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee sometime in late March or early April.
The course was designed by Gary Cantrell. His idea for the race was inspired upon hearing about Martin Luther King, Jr's assassin escaping from prison, and making it only 8 miles after running 55 hours in the woods. Cantrell said to himself "I could do at least 100 miles." Thus, the Barkley Marathon was born.
The course itself, which has changed distance, route, and elevation many times since its inaugural run in 1986, currently consists of a 20-mile loop with no aid stations except water at two points along the route and the runner's parked car at the beginning of the loop. Runners of the 100 Mile version run this loop five times, with loops three and four being run in the opposite direction and loop five being runner's choice. Runners of the 60 Mile Fun Run (considered to be harder than Hardrock) complete three circuits of the loop.
In addition to running, competitors must find between nine and 11 books (varies per year) and remove a page from each book corresponding with their race number as proof of completion.
With 54,200 feet (now due to course changes, over 60,000 feet) of accumulated vertical climb, the 100 Mile Run is considered to be one of the more challenging ultramarathons held in the United States, if not the world. Some say it is the toughest trail race in the world. Some say it's not a race. Some say these are not trails.
The cut-off time for the 100 Mile race is 12 hours per loop, and the cut-off for the 60 Mile version of the race is 40 hours overall, which averages out to approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes per loop. Since the race's inception in 1986, only seven runners (Mark Williams 1995, David Horton and Blake Wood 2001, Ted "Cave Dog" Keizer 2003, Jim Nelson and Mike Tilden 2004, Brian Robinson 2008 (course record 55:42:27)) out of more than 650 have completed the 100 Mile race within the official 60 hour cut-off. In 2006 nobody finished even 60 Mile Fun Run in under 40 hours. Best woman achievement is Sue Johnston's 66 miles in 2001. More than 30 competitors failed to reach first book (2 miles).
The race is limited to 35 runners and usually fills up quickly the day registration opens. Potential entrants must complete an essay on "Why I Should be Allowed to Run in the Barkley."
That, my friends, is the inspiration for our Barkley Book Fair. Like the Big Barkley, our event will have 2 races, a day run, and a night run. The day run will commence around 6:30 pm tomorrow night, which should be plenty of time for even the most cautious trail trodder to finish before dark. The night race will begin after dark. I have been asked if the course is hard. The day course is medium to hard, with one steep hill to climb just before the halfway point. There will be water and Gatorade at the halfway point.
The night course is different every year, and each year I like to throw in some new challenges to make it interesting.
Expect a few surprises along the way. Expect to get lost, but so far, we have not had to call "search and rescue". A cell phone sometimes is helpful for those who are sure they are in the Turkey Mountain Triangle.
I am considering scrapping the checkpoint in the underwater cave. Seems a large turtle has claimed this submerged cavern and sometimes he is "home" and sometimes he is not!
For the night run, which will be 7 miles +/- this year, I advise spraying down with some off or an equivalent solution as ticks have been pretty bad this year. I have captured and carried away 50 of these critters so far. You are welcome!
All things considered, I do insist that the night runners be experienced in trail running and night running. They should have a reliable flashlight or headlamp. There will be water, Gatorade, and maybe another beverage at 2 locations on the night course. There will be some sort of food and drink at the finish. TATUR will have a bucket that you can toss a buck or two to offset the cost of the food and drink stuff.
Come join us!! (The above was a reprint from last years event.)
Tomorrow night, the 4th running of the Barkley Book Fair will happen once again on Turkey Mountain. This is by far my favorite run of the year, and I do not even do it!! For three years, I have marked a fairly strenuous course of around 4.5 miles that TATURs and friends of TATURs get to run for FREE! Part of the allure of this race is that although there are obvious places where one could "cut the course" and also plenty of reasons to consider that, I place books out on the course and runners must tear a page out of the book that corresponds with their race number to prove to me that they are not cheaters and actually were tough enough to finish the course.
The day course usually has 5 or 6 books and has just one hill to climb. More than once, a swear word has been heard by those negotiating this one hill, but so far, no one has died from it.
Much of the day course is nice runnable single track trail, although there are a couple of rocky sections.
This time of year, there may be a few various reptiles heard slithering just off the trails in the underbrush, so while watching your step so as not to trip on rocks or roots, keep an eye out for anything living you would not want to step on.
Probably the most dangerous critter you might see on the day run is the mutated Easter Bunny that terrorizes the Bunny Trail.
It is because of this menacing creature that I have decided to not send the day runners back on the said Bunny Trail.
The day race starts at 6:30 pm, and runners have always been able to complete the day run before the sun goes down. One who can run/walk a 20 minute mile can finish the course in an hour and a half.
The night run as quite a different story. First off, it is at night. It is a different course and most years, I have made it 5-6 times harder than the day course, although I heard some whiners last year saying they thought the night course was a little too easy. (And this year, they will PAY for that!) Whereas the day course is well marked, the night course is less so. Last year, I was generous with the pink ribbons, but this year, I am going green. Green does not show up all that well at night, and I don't want the local landfills to be overrun with excessive discarded ribbons, so runners will have to rely on a map that I will have for sale before the race.
I am thinking maybe 8-10 books. I suggest you bring a few things to this run, such as a flashlight and/or headlamp, some bug spray, a cell phone, band-aids, snake bite kit, water bottle, duct tape, wetsuit if desired, an innertube or rubber duckie flotation device, one of those Star Trek communicater devices so Scotty can beam you up, a small machete, and a ball peen hammer. (Please leave the machete and ball peen hammer at the last book area before proceeding to the finish area.
Seriously, you can expect 7-8 miles of trail, some trail that you have never been on, some trail that you will never want to be on again, some decent hills, (see above elevation profile of last years night run) (this year's night event will have more hills) and for sure, a surprise or three. I am not talking things like a guy in a hockey mask and a chain saw, but you may see some weird things out there. But, after finishing, licking your wounds, and such, I think most will be a combination of pissed, amused, and thrilled.
Threats to the RD will be evaluated, brief outbursts of whining will be tolerated and will be treated with nonchalance and beer. Donations to TATUR will be appreciated (someone pays for all the great refreshments and such at the aid stations.)
Saturday June 27th....the fun starts at 6:00 pm, and ends up late and sometimes we end up at IHOP. You'll kick yourself if you miss it!
The Barkley Marathons is actually two races run on the same course, a 100 Mile Run and a 60 Mile Fun Run. It is held annually in Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg, Tennessee sometime in late March or early April.
The course was designed by Gary Cantrell. His idea for the race was inspired upon hearing about Martin Luther King, Jr's assassin escaping from prison, and making it only 8 miles after running 55 hours in the woods. Cantrell said to himself "I could do at least 100 miles." Thus, the Barkley Marathon was born.
The course itself, which has changed distance, route, and elevation many times since its inaugural run in 1986, currently consists of a 20-mile loop with no aid stations except water at two points along the route and the runner's parked car at the beginning of the loop. Runners of the 100 Mile version run this loop five times, with loops three and four being run in the opposite direction and loop five being runner's choice. Runners of the 60 Mile Fun Run (considered to be harder than Hardrock) complete three circuits of the loop.
In addition to running, competitors must find between nine and 11 books (varies per year) and remove a page from each book corresponding with their race number as proof of completion.
With 54,200 feet (now due to course changes, over 60,000 feet) of accumulated vertical climb, the 100 Mile Run is considered to be one of the more challenging ultramarathons held in the United States, if not the world. Some say it is the toughest trail race in the world. Some say it's not a race. Some say these are not trails.
The cut-off time for the 100 Mile race is 12 hours per loop, and the cut-off for the 60 Mile version of the race is 40 hours overall, which averages out to approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes per loop. Since the race's inception in 1986, only seven runners (Mark Williams 1995, David Horton and Blake Wood 2001, Ted "Cave Dog" Keizer 2003, Jim Nelson and Mike Tilden 2004, Brian Robinson 2008 (course record 55:42:27)) out of more than 650 have completed the 100 Mile race within the official 60 hour cut-off. In 2006 nobody finished even 60 Mile Fun Run in under 40 hours. Best woman achievement is Sue Johnston's 66 miles in 2001. More than 30 competitors failed to reach first book (2 miles).
The race is limited to 35 runners and usually fills up quickly the day registration opens. Potential entrants must complete an essay on "Why I Should be Allowed to Run in the Barkley."
That, my friends, is the inspiration for our Barkley Book Fair. Like the Big Barkley, our event will have 2 races, a day run, and a night run. The day run will commence around 6:30 pm tomorrow night, which should be plenty of time for even the most cautious trail trodder to finish before dark. The night race will begin after dark. I have been asked if the course is hard. The day course is medium to hard, with one steep hill to climb just before the halfway point. There will be water and Gatorade at the halfway point.
The night course is different every year, and each year I like to throw in some new challenges to make it interesting.
Expect a few surprises along the way. Expect to get lost, but so far, we have not had to call "search and rescue". A cell phone sometimes is helpful for those who are sure they are in the Turkey Mountain Triangle.
I am considering scrapping the checkpoint in the underwater cave. Seems a large turtle has claimed this submerged cavern and sometimes he is "home" and sometimes he is not!
For the night run, which will be 7 miles +/- this year, I advise spraying down with some off or an equivalent solution as ticks have been pretty bad this year. I have captured and carried away 50 of these critters so far. You are welcome!
All things considered, I do insist that the night runners be experienced in trail running and night running. They should have a reliable flashlight or headlamp. There will be water, Gatorade, and maybe another beverage at 2 locations on the night course. There will be some sort of food and drink at the finish. TATUR will have a bucket that you can toss a buck or two to offset the cost of the food and drink stuff.
Come join us!! (The above was a reprint from last years event.)
Tomorrow night, the 4th running of the Barkley Book Fair will happen once again on Turkey Mountain. This is by far my favorite run of the year, and I do not even do it!! For three years, I have marked a fairly strenuous course of around 4.5 miles that TATURs and friends of TATURs get to run for FREE! Part of the allure of this race is that although there are obvious places where one could "cut the course" and also plenty of reasons to consider that, I place books out on the course and runners must tear a page out of the book that corresponds with their race number to prove to me that they are not cheaters and actually were tough enough to finish the course.
The day course usually has 5 or 6 books and has just one hill to climb. More than once, a swear word has been heard by those negotiating this one hill, but so far, no one has died from it.
Much of the day course is nice runnable single track trail, although there are a couple of rocky sections.
This time of year, there may be a few various reptiles heard slithering just off the trails in the underbrush, so while watching your step so as not to trip on rocks or roots, keep an eye out for anything living you would not want to step on.Probably the most dangerous critter you might see on the day run is the mutated Easter Bunny that terrorizes the Bunny Trail.
It is because of this menacing creature that I have decided to not send the day runners back on the said Bunny Trail.The day race starts at 6:30 pm, and runners have always been able to complete the day run before the sun goes down. One who can run/walk a 20 minute mile can finish the course in an hour and a half.
The night run as quite a different story. First off, it is at night. It is a different course and most years, I have made it 5-6 times harder than the day course, although I heard some whiners last year saying they thought the night course was a little too easy. (And this year, they will PAY for that!) Whereas the day course is well marked, the night course is less so. Last year, I was generous with the pink ribbons, but this year, I am going green. Green does not show up all that well at night, and I don't want the local landfills to be overrun with excessive discarded ribbons, so runners will have to rely on a map that I will have for sale before the race.
I am thinking maybe 8-10 books. I suggest you bring a few things to this run, such as a flashlight and/or headlamp, some bug spray, a cell phone, band-aids, snake bite kit, water bottle, duct tape, wetsuit if desired, an innertube or rubber duckie flotation device, one of those Star Trek communicater devices so Scotty can beam you up, a small machete, and a ball peen hammer. (Please leave the machete and ball peen hammer at the last book area before proceeding to the finish area.
Seriously, you can expect 7-8 miles of trail, some trail that you have never been on, some trail that you will never want to be on again, some decent hills, (see above elevation profile of last years night run) (this year's night event will have more hills) and for sure, a surprise or three. I am not talking things like a guy in a hockey mask and a chain saw, but you may see some weird things out there. But, after finishing, licking your wounds, and such, I think most will be a combination of pissed, amused, and thrilled.
Threats to the RD will be evaluated, brief outbursts of whining will be tolerated and will be treated with nonchalance and beer. Donations to TATUR will be appreciated (someone pays for all the great refreshments and such at the aid stations.)Saturday June 27th....the fun starts at 6:00 pm, and ends up late and sometimes we end up at IHOP. You'll kick yourself if you miss it!
